Demon 79

I've now watched 3 of this new season. And only a handful of ones from past seasons. I find BM can be a hit and miss affair. Sometimes a bit too predictable like watching that old series 'Tales of the Unexpected' if anyone remembers that?

But Demon79 was so much more nuanced and fun. Who cares if it wasn't about technology? Do a whole season of 'Red Mirror' please. This is exactly what it was like living at the end of that decade. Script and acting were sublime. Top marks to the fashion and sets too. Sometimes these retro scenes can look like a modern day students idea of the '70's - but the detail in this was done really well and it had a fantastic soundtrack that didn't pick all the obvious tunes.

Best thing I've seen on TV in a very long time.

What a compelling actress. She really sells the whole concept of the episode, silly as the synopsis sounds.

Anjana, you had a lot riding in your shoulders, and you carried it. Well done. And you rocked that jacket too.

Honorable mention to the music and the cinematography. And the more-deplorable characters were well done, too. Some characters became heavy-handed caricatures, sure, but the piece was meant to be stylized.

Black Mirror, admittedly, excels most when it stays focused on the impact of technology (in moods both surreal and cautionary), and of course this season drifts from that norm a bit. But still I appreciate the exploring, as the show has always been a mix of hits and misses. (Metaphorically, I mean, not with a hammer.)

Young Shop Assistant Needa unwittingly summons a powerful Demon, who demands she commits three sacrifices over three days in order to prevent a total disaster.

A nice homage to 70's horror, I loved those opening sequences and wonderful opening credits, they set the tone for what was to follow. A mix of black humour and vintage horror.

A definite reminder of the casual racism of the time, Needa is exposed to all manner of abuse and prejudice, unfortunately mostly accepted at the time.

I can't say I thought this was a vintage episode, but I enjoyed the horror vibe, and I definitely enjoyed it more than Mazey Day.

I've read several comments about technology, and I may be wrong, but to my understanding technology was never the focus, it was always about a vision of the future, and in all fairness you can't get a more bleak possible future than this one.

Did I spot a reference to Metalhead? That's the possible future that Needa was contemplating.

Anjana Vasan was good as the beleaguered Needs, I became a huge fan of Paapa Essiedu during The Capture on BBC, and once again, he's so good.

Nice to see Vicky Binns, albeit in a small role.

It's been a bit and miss sixth series, it's definitely not been vintage, but some highlights nonetheless, I'll be making a point to watch Loch Henry again very soon.

7/10.

I see a lot of people complaining that this episode has veered away from Black Mirror's central theme of the dangers technology can unleash upon humanity, but that's because the creator of this series, Charlie Brooker, intended to do so with this episode. He was quoted by the press saying the following:

"Demon 79 opens with a 'Red Mirror presents' title sequence, marking it out as 'different-from-yet-adjacent-to' Black Mirror. This is because, typically, Black Mirror has focused on tech dystopias or media satire, whereas this story has a stronger supernatural element, harking back to 1970s horror. The episode is almost unclassifiable."

Hopefully that helps clear up the confusion as to why "Demon 79" is so different than the other BM episodes.

Overall the main story of this particular episode could have been fleshed out a littler tighter, but the performances of the two leads, particularly Paapa Essiedu (who plays the demon Gaap), are exceptional. His charisma is incredibly intoxicating, and his on-screen chemistry with Ania Vasan (who plays the protagonist, Nida) is palpable. Kudos to both actors! They made a somewhat ordinary horror story especially interesting and even comedic, with hefty doses of dark humor sprinkled throughout. And of course the late 70s Britain setting creates a captivating nostalgic throwback.

I find it's hard to watch Black Mirror now without being too critical of whether or not the episode fits the original themes of the show and the standard we are looking for as viewers. I can also get distracted at the beginning guessing what the "message" is going to be about.

I really enjoyed this episode though just as it was. I sort of forgot I was watching Black Mirror and just enjoyed the cinematography, soundtrack and acting.

Overall this season may not have knocked it out of the park for me but it's still a perfect show to watch an episode with my spouse after the kiddos are in bed and have a good chat. This episode wasn't the most thought provoking but the most enjoyable for me.